Air carrier descending into msp was questioned by ATC regarding a turn assignment; alleging the repo...

Attributes
ACN	902506
Time
Date	201008
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	MSP.Airport
State Reference	MN
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Saab 340 Undifferentiated
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Descent
Route In Use	STAR GOPHER
Person 1
Function	Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 36 Flight Crew Total 3000 Flight Crew Type 1200
Person 2
Function	First Officer
Qualification	Flight Crew Commercial
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 3 Flight Crew Total 6000 Flight Crew Type 4200
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Track / Heading All Types

Narrative:

At 9;000 ft MSL on the gopher arrival into msp; I accepted a clearance to turn right to 240 and descend to 7;000 ft. After around 1 minute I was informed that I had accepted a clearance meant for another same company flight and instructed to proceed direct to gep and climb to 8;000. Afterwords we were informed that an aircraft with a similar call sign was on the frequency as well. I believe the controller used my call sign when he issued the clearance. He issued our company the same clearance after I had accepted it. Suggestions; use of similar flight numbers at or near the same arrival times should be avoided if possible. Extreme vigilance must be exercised by flight crews when operating in the vicinity of aircraft with similar call signs.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air Carrier descending into MSP was questioned by ATC regarding a turn assignment; alleging the reporter accepted a clearance issued to a same company; similar flight number; aircraft; the reporter suggesting ATC erred.

Narrative: At 9;000 FT MSL on the GOPHER arrival into MSP; I accepted a clearance to turn right to 240 and descend to 7;000 FT. After around 1 minute I was informed that I had accepted a clearance meant for another same company flight and instructed to proceed direct to GEP and climb to 8;000. Afterwords we were informed that an aircraft with a similar call sign was on the frequency as well. I believe the Controller used my call sign when he issued the clearance. He issued our company the same clearance after I had accepted it. Suggestions; use of similar flight numbers at or near the same arrival times should be avoided if possible. Extreme vigilance must be exercised by flight crews when operating in the vicinity of aircraft with similar call signs.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Air carrier descending into msp was questioned by ATC regarding a turn assignment; alleging the reporter accepted a clearance issued to a same company; similar flight number; aircraft; the reporter suggesting ATC erred.